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HIISTORtCAL SKETCHES 



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DELIVERED 



IN THE FIRST CHURCH 



JUNE 26, 1836. 



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HARTFORD: 

HUDSON AND SKINNER, PRINTERS. 

1836. 



HISTORICAli SKETCHES 



OF THE 






CEHTEnniAL DISCOTTI^SB 



DELIVERED 



IIV THE FIRST CHURCH 



JUNE 26, 1836. 



nj^ J^OEJL tt^tJVESi o» n. 



HARTFORD: 

HUDSON AND SKINNER, PRINTERS. 

1836. 






At a meeting op the First Church in Hartford, 
July 11, 1836. 

Voted, That the thanks of the Church be presented to our 
Pastor, for his very appropriate discourse lately dehvered on 
its second Centennial Anniversary, and that a copy of the 
same be requested for publication. 

Attest, William W. Turner, Clerk, 



In exchang's 
MAR 8 9 1916 



HISTORICAL. SKETCIIES 

OP THE 

PsALM 78: 1-7. Give ear, O my people, to my law: incline your ears to 
the words of my mouth. I will open my mouth in a parable; I will utter 
dark sayings of old, which we have heard and known, and our fathers have 
told us. We will not hide them from their children, showing to the genera- 
tion to come the praises of the Lord, and his strength, and his wonderful 
works that he hath done. For he established a testimony in Jacob, and 
appointed a law in Israel, which he commanded our fathers, that they should 
make them known to their children; that the generation to come might 
know them, even the children which should be born; who should arise and 
declare them to their children ; that they might set their hope in God, and 
not forget the works of God, but keep his commandments. 

It is two hundred years, this month, — on what 
day cannot now be determined, — since the church, ac- 
customed to meet in this house, came to this town and 
commenced here the worship of God which it has ever 
since regularly maintained. I have thought the occasion 
a fit one for reviving some recollections of the history 
of the church and of its pastors, together with such 
reflections on the past, as may serve to make us grateful 
for the present, and afford us useful lessons for the 
future. 

As we look back to the period when our fathers came 
here and began the great work of laying the foundations 
of our civil and religious institutions, a thousand interest- 
ing associations crowd into the mind, and we scarcely 



know where to begin, in the discharge of the duty we 
have undertaken. We love to dwell on the virtues of 
the venerated men, to whose self denials, and toils, and 
prayers, we feel that we are indebted for the chief 
blessings that distinguish our lot. We are interested 
and instructed, when we contemplate the principles of 
civil and religious liberty which, in a dark and iron age, 
they developed and established in this new world. We 
are moved with wonder and gratitude, when we think of 
the wide spread influence of those principles, and of the 
immensely interesting consequences which have flowed 
from the humble labors of men, who, driven out, as ex- 
iles and criminals from their native land, sought an 
asylum for religion and freedom on these western shores. 
But on these topics we cannot now enlarge. Nor is it 
necessary, as we have often dwelt upon them on former 
occasions. My present design is more limited, and will 
be confined to such brief notices of our history as can be 
comprised within a single discourse. 

The original founders of this church were a choice 
collection of men from Braintree and its vicinity, in Essex 
County, England. Like the great body of the first set- 
tlers of New England, they were Nonconformists or 
Puritans;* and not being permitted to worship God ac- 

* This was a name which first obtained in the reign of queen EHzabelh, 
in 1564. It was a name of reproach, to distinguish and stigmatize those who 
did not conform to the Hturgy, ceremonies, and discipline, of the church of 
England. Fuller says, 'it was improved to abuse pious people, who en- 
deavored to follow the minister with a pure heart, and labored for a pure and 
holy hfe.' Trumbull, vol. 1, p. 280. 

' It was a distinguishing mark of a puritan in these times, to see him going to 
church twice on the Lord's day with his Bible under his arm ; and while others 
were at plays and interludes, at revels, or walking in the fields, or at the diver- 
sions of bowling, fencing «fec. on the evening of the Sabbath, these vi^ith their 
families were employed in reading the scriptures, singing psalms, catechising 
their children, repeating sermons and prayer.' Neal's His. of Puritans p. 560, 



cording to their views of duty in their native land, they, 
in 1632, emigrated to this country and settled at New- 
town, now Cambridge, Massachusetts. There they built 
the first meeting house ' with a bell upon it ;' and invited 
the Rev. Thomas Hooker, whose ministry they had oc- 
casionally enjoyed in England, to become their pastor. 
Accordingly in the summer of 1633, he, with about two 
hundred other passengers, among whom was the famous 
John Cotton, and Stone, and Pierce, and Haynes, and 
*many other men of good estates,' embarked for this 
country, where they arrived on the 4th of September. On 
the 11th of October following, this church was organized 
at Newtown, and Messrs. Hooker and Stone were ordain- 
ed its pastor and teacher.* It was the eighth church es- 
tablished in New England, and the first in this State. 

* It was a common opinion, in the early history of New England, that in 
every church, completely organized, there was a pastor, teacher, ruling 
elder and deacons. Between the offices of pastor and teacher there was 
thought to be a difference; but in what it consisted, it is not easy now to 
ascertain. 

The terms themselves, though at first distinct, soon became convertible, 
and the distinction, whatever it was in the beginning, was ere long lost sight 
of. Trumbull says that the pastor's work consisted principally in exhorta- 
tion, working upon the will and affections. To this his studies and visits 
were chiefly directed; that by his judicious, and affectionate addresses, he 
might win the people to the love and the practice of the truth. But the 
teacher was doctor in ecclcsia, whose business it was to teach, explain and 
defend the doctrines of Christianity. 

The business of the ruling elder was to assist the Pastor in the govern- 
ment of the church. He was particularly set apart to watch over its mem- 
bers; to prepare and bring forward cases of discipline; to visit and pray with 
the sick; and in the absence of the pastor and teacher, to lead the devotions 
of the congregation and expound the scriptures. It was an office very simi- 
lar to that of deacon, and was not kept up, except in a very few churches, 
more than fifty years. The authority for these distinct offices was supposed 
to be found in Romans 12: 7. 1. Cor. 12: 28. 1. Tim. 5: 17. and 
Eph. 4 : 17. 

See Winthrop's Journal, by Savage— vol. 1, 31. Trumbull 1, 280, 
Hooker's Survey part 11. p. 4, 20. 



6 

In Juno 1G3G, a settlement having been efTectecl here the 
preceding autumn, nearly the entire church and con- 
gregation, with its pastor and teacher, consisting in all 
of about one hundred souls, commenced a removal to 
this place. Now that the same distance is daily passed 
over in ten or twelve hours, we can scarcely conceive of 
the difficulties which our pious ancestors had to encoun- 
ter, ere they could reach the banks of the ' beautiful 
Connecticut,' the place of their future home. They had 
to make their way through a ' hideous trackless wilder- 
derness ; over mountains, through swamps and thickets 
and rivers, with no guide but the compass, with no 
covering but the heavens, and no lodgings but such as 
simple nature afforded them.' They drove with them 
one hundred and sixty cattle, and subsisted on the 
milk of the kine during the journey. After a fortnight's 
travel through the wilderness, tenanted only by wild 
beasts and savage men, they reached this place of their 
destination. Here they set up the worship of God in 
the resrular administration of his word and ordinances. 
Here they lived and labored and prayed together. Here 
tliey enjoyed the special smiles of their covenant God 
and Saviour. Here they died; beneath and around us 
is the place of their sepulchres ; and here, having ceased 
from their labors on earth, they ascended to their re- 
ward in heaven. 

One of their first cares, after their arrival, was to 
provide a place of worship. Its location was a little 
North of where the Universalist meeting house now 
stands. It was of course a rude, inconvenient building, 
constructed of logs and covered with thatch. It was 
occupied only a short period as a place of worship, and, 
in 1649, was, by vote of the town, given to Mr. Hooker.* 

* Town Records, vol 1, p. 6)'. 



The second house for public worship was built in 1638. 
It was located a little distance eastward, from where 
the State house now stands, and served as the place of 
our father's worship 99 years. 

It was a circumstance of great importance to the subse- 
quent prosperity of the churches of New England, that 
they were founded by men eminently qualified for the 
work ; distinguished alike for their talents, their learn- 
ing and their piety. This may especially be said of 
those who established the first churches of Connecticut. 
They were among the most pious, discreet and intelli- 
gent of the Puritans ; raised up in providence to impress 
a high character on the age to which they belonged, and 
to give a new and permanent direction to human affairs. 

Thomas Hooker, the first pastor of this church, has 
justly been styled ^ the light of the ice stern churches and 
oracle of the colony of Connecticut.'* No sage of antiquity 
was superior to him in wisdom, moderation and firmness; 
none equal to him in the grandeur of his moral charac- 
ter and the elevation of his devotion. If we except the 
Rev. John Cotton of Boston, perhaps no man in New 
England exerted a greater influence in the civil and 
religious aflfairs of the country than did this distinguished 
scholar and eminent servant of Christ. He was born 
at Marfield, England, in 1586, and was educated at 
Emanuel College, Cambridge, where he was afterwards 
promoted to a fellowship, in which oflice he 'acquitted 
himself with such ability and faithfulness as commanded 
universal approbation and applause.' After leaving the 
University, he preached for some time in London and 
afterwards at Chelmsford with great success. Among 
the multiplied fruits of his ministry in that place was 
Eliot, the famed apostle of the Indians.* So well was he 

* One of the principal instruments which the God of heaven used in 
tinging and fining the mind of this chosen vessel (Eliot) with good principles 



8 

beloved by the neighboring clergy, that when in 1630, 
the Bishop of London silenced him for nonconformity, 
forty-seven of them signed a petition in his favor, 
testifying that Mr. Hooker was orthodox in doctrine, 
houest and sober in his life and conversation, of a peace- 
able disposition and no ways turbulent or factious. But 
this petition had no effect on the imperious and inexora- 
ble Laud. Mr. Hooker was compelled to lay down his 
ministry ; and when afterwards summoned by the 
bishop to appear before the High Commission Court, he 
left his native land and fled to Holland. There he be- 
came intimately acquainted with the celebrated Dr. 
Ames, who declared that ' though he had known many 
scholars of divers nations, yet he never met with Mr. 
Hooker's equal, either for preaching, or for disputing.' 
With a genius and eloquence, which had he stooped to 
conformity, would have secured to him all the glory and 
power that an earthly ambition could court, he submitted 
for conscience sake, to the severest sacrifices and the 
most embarrassing distresses in his native land ; and 
finally fled to the wilds of America, that he might here, 
with the christian friends, who had loved and revered 
him as a minister in England, establish a purer wor- 
ship, and serve God according to the rules of his word. 
The man, who gathered this church and laid here the 
foundations of our religious institutions, in the principles 
of christian freedom, and of apostolic simplicity, ought 

was the venerable Thomas Hooker, whose name in the churches of the 
Lord Jesus is as ointment poured forth. Prince's New England Chronolo- 
gy, 378. 

Eliot refering to the fact above stated says, — 'To this place I was called, 
through the infinite riches of God's mercy in Christ Jesus, to my poor soul ; 
for here the Lord said unto my dead soul, live; and through the grace of 
Christ I do live, and I shall live forever. When I came to this blessed 
family, I then saw, and never saw before, the power of godliness, in its 
lively vigor, and efficacy. Magnalia vol, 1, 305. 



9 

never to be forgotten. It is good to contemplate his 
virtues and hold up his example to posterity. He was 
one of the ablest and most eloquent preachers of his day. 
All was life and reality in his exhibitions of truth ; — 
bespeaking the deep fervor of his piety, and the rich re- 
sources of his mind. Though kind, and affable in his 
common intercourse, he appeared in the pulpit with 
such majesty and independence, that it was pleasantly 
vsaid of him ; ' while engaged in his Master's work, he 
would put a king in his pocket.'' In conversation, he was 
pleasant and entertaining, but always grave and instruc- 
tive. In the management of church affairs, he was ex- 
ceedingly wise and successful ; and great was the pros- 
perity and peace of the church under his ministry. But 
one person was admonished, and one excommunicated 
from the church, during the fourteen years that Mr. 
Hooker was its pastor. He died of an epidemical fever 
July 7th, 1647, in the 61st year of his age. He was a 
christian of deep and thorough experience. His conver- 
sion, which took place, while he was a member of the 
university, was strongly marked and the fruits of it ap- 
peared in a life of devoted piety and joyful hope. For 
many years before his death, he enjoyed an assurance 
of his renewed state and of final acceptance with God; 
and when dying, he said to a friend, who remarked to 
him, you are going to receive the reward of your labors, 
brother, I am going to receive mercy. He closed his own 
eyes and died with a smile on his countenance. A line 
of pious, useful and honorable descendants have embalm- 
ed the memory of their ancestor, and in a former age, his 
writings were valued with those of the very first class of 
New England divines.* 

* After the death of Mr. Hooker, the church invited Mr. Jonathan Mitchel, 
to become their pastor. He preached his first sermon here June 24th, 1649. 

2 



10 

The Rev. Samuel Stone, the teacher of the church, 
was worthy to be associated with its distinguished 
pastor. By the author of New England's Memorial, 
he is called ' a star of the first magninitude.' He was 
born at Hartford, or Hertford, in 1603 ; was educated 
at Emanuel College, Cambridge, and from a thorough 
examination of the subjects then in dispute, conscien- 
tiously adopted the sentiments of the Nonconformists. 
Of course he could not peaceably remain as a minister 

The day following, that 'judicious assembly of christians/ as Mather terms 
them, invited him to settle with them; ' adding that if he saw fit to continue 
a year longer at college, they would immediately, upon his accepting their 
invitation, advance a considerable sum of money to assist him in furnishing 
him with a library, which they said was no new thing unto them, having had 
Mr. Hooker's instruction for doing so.' But being partially engaged to the 
church in Cambridge, Mr, Mitchel declined the invitation and was shortly 
after settled as successor to the famous Mr. Shepard. Mather's Magnalia, 
vol. 2, p. 72. 

Hubbard, the earliest historian of New England, sajs of Hooker, that for 
prudence, wisdom, zeal and learning, and what might make him serviceable 
in the lime and place he lived in, he might be compared with those of the 
greatest note. He needs no other praise than the fruits of his own labors in 
both Englands, which shall preserve an honorable and happy remembrance 
of him forever. Hubbard's History of New-England; p. 541. 

In 1642 letters came to Cotton of Boston, Hooker of Hartford, and Daven- 
port of New Haven, signed by several of the nobility, divers members of the 
House of Commons, and several ministers, to call them to assist in the As- 
sembly of Divines at Westminster. The magistrates in and near Boston 
thought it a clear call of God. But Hooker did not like the business and 
thought it not a sufficient call to go a thousand leagues to confer about 
matters of church government, and so wisely determined to stay in quiet and 
obscurity with his people, rather than turn propagandist and plead in vain 
for independency in England. Several persons, who came over to New- 
England in 1643, made a muster to set up a presbyterian government under 
the authority of the Assembly at Westminster, 'but a New England Assem- 
bly, it is said, — the general court is meant— soon put them to route. Hutchin- 
son, vol, 1. 112. Hubbard's His'ory, 415. 

Mr. Hooker's 'Survey of Chyrch Discipline,' which was published in 
1648 and the principles of which had been fully discussed in the Synod that 
met at Cambridge in 1646, contributed powerfully to check the growth of 
Presbyterianism and to settle the churches upon the Congregational basis. 



11 

in his native land. Being invited by Mr. Hooker to be- 
come his assistant, he embarked with him for this coun- 
try in 1633. Here, in the happiest union with his vene- 
rated and much loved colleague, he was for thirty years 
the teacher of this church. After the decease of Mr. 
Hooker, he was the sole minister of the people, and re- 
mained so till his death, which took place July 26th, 
1663. Thouo-h but little is said of Mr. Stone in our 
early annals, that little is enough to render his memory 
dear and his name honored. 'He was eminently pious 
and exemplary ; abounded in fasting and prayer, and 
was a most strict observer of the Sabbath.' ' His minis- 
try was with much conviction and demonstration, and 
when he set himself to application, very powerful.'' He 
was esteemed one of the most accurate and acute dis- 
putants of his day, — was of a ready wit and of a pleas- 
ant, cheerful temper ; which made his society to be much 
courted, by all persons of ingenuity and learning, who 
had the happiness of an acquaintance with him. The 
latter years of his life were embittered by a painful con- 
troversy in the church, originating in a dispute upon some 
ecclesiastical topic, between him and a ruling elder.* 
What was the real origin of the contention it is not easy 
to determine ; but it lasted nearly twenty years, with some 
temporary suspensions, and involved all the country 
around in the quarrel. The general court particularly 
interested themselves in the affair, and by their well 
meant, but injudicious interference, greatly increased the 
difficulty. Cotton Mather, in his quaint style, remarks, 
* that from the fire of the altar, there issued thunder- 
ings and lightnings and earthquakes through the colony.' 
He also says, — ' that the true original of the misunder- 

* This, so far as I can learn, is the only difficulty of any agitating import- 
ance, that has ever existed in the church. 



12 

standing was about as obscure as the rise of Connecti- 
cut river., Dr. Trumbull however intimates that the 
whole controversy respected the qualifications for bap- 
tism, church membership, and the rights of the brother- 
hood. He suggests likewise that Mr. Stone's ideas of 
Congregationalism bordered more on presbyterianism, 
and less on independence, than those of the first minis- 
ters in the country in general. His sententious defini- 
tion of Congregationalism was, a speaking aristocracy in 
the face of a silent democracy.^ From all this, it seems 
not unnatural to infer, that the schism referred to, arose 
from a spice of presbyterianism. However this may 
be, all attempts to allay the animosities were without ef- 
fect. In the progress of the controversy, a part of the 
congregation removed and laid the foundation of the 
town and church of Hadley. After this Mr. Stone 
continued a few years in greater quietness, much 
beloved by his people, and witnessing the blessing of 
heaven on his ministry. He was a good man, and rests 
with the faithful stewards of God in the glorious re- 
wards of heaven. In anticipation of that happy state, 
he was accustomed with much longing to say, — ' heaven 
is the more desirable, for such company as Hooker and 
Shepard and Haynes, who are got there before me.' 

The successors of the two eminent ministers just 
named, were John Whiting and Joseph Haynes. Owing 
to the destruction, by some cause, of all the early re- 
cords, both of the church and society, very little can 
now be known, either of the character or ministerial 
acts of these servants of Christ. Tradition speaks of 
them as men of piety and talents and much honored and 
respected in their day. They both graduated at Harvard 
College, the former, in 1653, and the latter in 1658. 

* Trumbull, 308. 



13 

Mr. Haynes was son to the first governor of Connecti- 
cut; one of the first and most distinguished of the 
founders of this church and colony. Mr. Whiting was 
ordained in 1660, and Mr. Haynes, 1664. 

On the 12th of February, 1670, under their ministry, 
the church divided. Thirty-two members, who withdrew 
from the church, were regularly organised into a new 
church, in the south part of the town, and Mr. Whiting be- 
came their pastor. Hediedin 1689. Mr. Haynes, who re- 
mained sole pastor, after the separation, died May 24th, 
1679, in the 38th year of his age, and the 15th of his 
ministry. The division of the church, though amicably 
effected at the time, was doubtless hastened by the dif- 
ference of sentiment, which had long existed among the 
brethren, relative to the qualifications of church mem- 
bers, the subjects of baptism, and the mode of discipline. 
A party, urged on by State influence, had long been 
gaining strength in the country, who were for lowering 
the terms of admission to the church. They wished to 
enjoy the privilege of membership, so far as to be regard- 
ed as professors of religion and have their children 
baptized, without being required to exhibit evidence of 
personal piety, or come to the communion. This in- 
troduced what was called the half way covenant. The 
plan, it is said, originated in this state. It was formally 
discussed and adopted at a meeting of ministers in 
Boston in 1657, and ratified anew in all its essential 
features, by a general synod in 1662. This wretched 
system of compromise, though at first strongly opposed 
by a great number of the ministers and churches, subse- 
quently came to be generally adopted and resulted in 
immense mischief to the cause of religion. Mr. Whiting 
and a part of the church, zealous for the strictly congre- 
gational way, as practised by the first ministers and 



14 

churches of New England, were decidedly opposed to 
the change, as a great and dangerous innovation. Mr. 
Haynes and a majority of the congregation were not 
less disposed to favour it ; and the difference, as before 
stated, resulted in the formation of the second or south 
church. 

Isaac Foster succeeded Mr. Haynes in the pastoral 
office in this church. His ministry was short, con- 
tinuing only three years. He was ordained near the 
close of the year 1679, or the begining of 1C80, and 
died January 1G83. He graduated at Harvard Col- 
lege in 1671. The late Dr. Strong remarks of him, 
that ^he was eminent for piety and died young.' This 
is the only record that remains of him, and though brief, 
it is honorable, and places him among the just whose 
memory is blessed. 

The next pastor of this church was the Rev. Timothy 
Woodbridge, who graduated at Harvard College in 
1675, was ordained Nov. 18th 1685, and died April 30th, 
1732, at a very advanced age, and in the 47th year of 
his ministry. Time has swept away nearly all the ma- 
terials from which we might draw the character of Mr. 
Woodbridge, or learn the history of his protracted minis- 
try.* In a sermon preached at the dedication of this 
house in 1807, Dr. Strong says ; ' many who are now in 
the grave, have related to us, how they were convinced 
of sin, and enlightened into a knowledge of the truth 
under his ministry.' Judging from the time-worn and 
very imperfect records of his ministry, in my possession, 

* The only records that remain of the church, previous to my ministry, are 
contained in a small leather bound duodecimo volume, and relate chiefly to 
admissions to the church, baptisms, acts of discipline and deaths. They com- 
mence with the settlement of Mr. Woodbridge in 1685 and are confined to 
his ministry and that of his two successors, Rev. Messrs. Wadsworth and 
Dorr. The entire records of Dr. Strong's ministry are lost. 



15 

I should form a decidedly favourable opinion of his piety 
and diligence, and of his sincere exertions to promote the 
spiritual welfare of his people. He bore an active part 
in the measures which resulted in the founding of Yale 
College in 1700. He was also a member of the conven- 
tion that met at Saybrook in 1708, to form a constitution 
of government for the churches in this State. He lived 
in a period of great and wide spread spiritual declension. 
The piety of the pilgrim fathers had passed away. The 
serious and strict religion, that characterized the early 
churches of New England, had been supplanted by great 
formality and deadness. Laxer views of doctrine had 
extensively obtained in the country ; and the practice of 
admitting persons to the church on the half way cove- 
nant, as it was called, which had gradually been gaining 
ground since the meeting of the synod in 1662, exerted 
a most blighting influence upon the interests of vital re- 
ligion. Whether Mr. Woodbridge was at first an advo- 
cate of the practice does not appear. The great body of 
the church we know were in favor of it ; and from the 
fact that it was fully introduced and acted upon in the 
early part of his ministry,* it is probable that the senti- 
ments of the pastor coincided with those of his people, 
and both were left to the sad results of fallins: into so 
great an error. The power of the ministry was crippled 
and the vitality of the church paralized. The custom of 
owning the covenant was resorted to in the place of sound 
conversion ; and those who had gotten part of the way into 
the church seemed generally well satisfied to go no further. 
Hence, while great numbers were induced to come for- 
ward and own the covenant, very few entered the church 
in full communion, and the number of members who 
came to the sacrament was lamentably small. The 
* 1696. Trumbull 471. 



16 

like practice was about the same time introduced into 
the south church and gradually into many other church- 
es of the colony, and is, doubtless, to be regarded as one 
of the principal causes of the deep spiritual declension 
which overspread the churches about that period. 

The Rev. Daniel Wadsworth succeeded Mr. Wood- 
bridge. He was a graduate of Yale College in 1726; 
was ordained Sept. 28th, 1732, and died Nov. 12th, 1747, 
in the 43d year of his age, and 16th of his ministry. 
During the ministry of Mr. Wadsworth, the third house 
of public worship was erected by this church and society 
nearly on the spot where our present house stands. The 
foundation of it was laid August 8th, 1737, and it was dedi- 
cated December 30th, 1739*. The sermon preached by 
Mr. Wadsworth on the occasion, which I have seen, is in 
a neat, perspicuous style and breathes a truly evangelical 
spirit. Dr. Strong says of him that ' he was a close 
student, an accurate reasoner, and an evangelical 
preacher,' and adds 'his memory is precious to many of- 
our aged christians.' He was succeeded by the Rev. 
Edward Dorr, who was ordained April 27th, 1748, and 
died October 20th, 1772, in the 50th year of his age 
and 25th of his ministry. He graduated at Yale Col- 
lege in 1742. He is remembered, by a few aged peo- 
ple among us, as an amiable and pleasant man, to 
whom they went to school in their early years. In a 
sermon preached by the Rev. Mr. Whitman of the 
South Church on the occasion of his interment, he is 
spoken of as a man of a clear understanding, of solid 
judgment, of a kind and benevolent disposition, ex- 
tensively versed in theoretical and practical divinity and 
a useful, instructive preacher. He enjoyed calmness and 

* The foundation of the present house was laid March 6th, 1806, and was 
dedicated December 3d, 1807. 



17 

peace of mind during his protracted illness ; and as his 
end approached, he said to a friend that the prospect of 
death was not distressing to him, as he had a comforta- 
ble hope that his peace was made with God. I find this 
prayer at the close of the record, written by himself, of 
the exercises at his ordination. * Give me grace, O God, 
to be a faithful, and make me a successful minister of 
the gospel of Jesus Christ.' 

During the period, now under review, and for a con- 
siderable time after, religion, in this place, and exten- 
sively through the land, was in a very low and declining 
state. The country was in an unquiet, disturbed con- 
dition. The standard of ministerial and christian effort 
was extremely low. There were no societies either for 
propagating the gospel at home or abroad. Meetings 
for conference and prayer were almost wholly unknown. 
The sum total of ministerial labor was to preach on the 
Sabbath, deliver a lecture preparatory to the com- 
munion and attend marriages and funerals in the 
parish.* Revivals were extremely rare, and by great 

* The amount of labor expected of ministers at the present day is three or 
four times as great as it was fifty years ago. Besides bearing a part in pro- 
moting the numerous benevolent operations of the day, it is now deemed im- 
portant that a minister, in ad lilion to the stated services of the Sabbath, 
should conduct a public meeting of some kind on Sabbath evening, preach 
or do what amounts to preaching two or three lectures during the week, and 
at the same time keep up a regular course of pastoral visitation. 

Within a few ytars a great change has taken place in the public mind in 
regard to what were formerly called, by way of contempt, 'night meetings.' 
It is within the memory of many now living, that no such meetings were held 
in this city; and within the memory of most, that no stated place was provid- 
ed in which to hold them. The first lecture or conference room in this State, 
it is believed, was erected by individual members of this church, and this 
was no further back than 1813. Now such a room is regarded as an indispen- 
sable accommodation in every well regulated parish. The ' old conference 
house,' being inconveniently located and too small to meet the wants of the 
society, it was relinquished in 1831, and the present capacious and most 
convenient room provided. It was opened with appropriate services 
December 22d, 1831, 

3 



18 

numbers, were regarded with suspicion and dislike. 
The half way covenant tended only to make half way 
christians and to drive all spirituality and life from the 
church. The Holy Spirit appears to have withdrawn 
his gracious presence from the churches ; ministers and 
people were extensively * settled on their lees,' and a 
moral dearth, of the most portentous character, had 
overspread the land. As might be expected, the num- 
ber of persons, in full communion with this church, was 
extremely small; and for many years previous to 1795, 
when religion began to revive, comparatively few came 
forward to own the covenant. 

Such essentially was the state of things, when, in 1774, 
Dr. Strong was ordained pastor of the church. He was 
one of the most distinguished men of his day. Many whom 
I now address, remember him well as their spiritual in- 
structor, and not a few love and venerate his name as 
their spiritual father. It was his lot to come upon the 
stage at a most interesting period of our history. The 
country and the churches were in a transition state, pas- 
sing into new forms of government, and into a higher 
condition of spirituality and truth and christian enterprise. 
The period was eminently favorable for the develope- 
ment of talent and to the calling forth of effort. The age 
demanded men of clear minds and good hearts to revive 
the drooping cause of religion ; and it found them in 
such men as West, and Smalley, and the younger Ed- 
wards, and Goodrich, and Trumbull, and Hart, and 
Emmons, and Backus, and Dwight and Strong. 
These men were the principal agents, under God, of 
correcting some errors, both in doctrine and practice, 
which had long been gaining ground in the community, 
and of preparing the way for the happy era of revivals 
and of benevolent effort, which have since prevailed in 
our country. 



19 

In effocting this blessed change, no man, it is be- 
lieved, exerted a more decided influence than did 
the late venerated pastor of this church. Dr. Strong 
was made to exert an influence. He had a mind of the 
first order for activity and penetration. He possessed 
an almost intuitive insight into the character and mo- 
tives of men, and could, while very much concealed him- 
self, touch the springs of action in others and move them 
to execute his schemes. This talent, coupled with a 
sound judgment, great fertility of invention and readiness 
of execution, gave him an influence in intercourse with 
society which to some seemed unaccountable, and 
enabled him to realize most of his expectations and 
plan. Though the fact does but imperfectly appears in 
his writings, he was a man of extensive reading, well ac- 
quainted with the literature and science of the day, and 
had few equals in a knowledge of the religious and politi- 
cal state of the world. The former part of his ministry 
was not distinguished by any special tokens of success. 
It was a period of war and of great political excitement ; 
and though he did not neglect the proper duties of his 
oflice, it is but saying what he afterwards often confess- 
ed and lamented, that his mind was too much drawn oflf 
from his ministerial work by engagement in other pur- 
suits. But during the last twenty years of his life, he 
laboured with great fidelity and diligence and with most 
marked success. His preaching became more solemn and 
impressive, and was aimed more directly at the heart and 
conscience. The Holy Spirit set his seal to his labors, 
and great was the success which crowned the latter half 
of his ministry. In 1799, he witnessed a powerful revi- 
val among his people in which a large number were 
made the subjects of renewing grace. Four years pre- 
vious to this, the church enjoyed a season of refreshing, 



20 

during which a considerable number were added to its 
communion. In 1808, and again in 1813 this people 
were favored with a signal work of the grace of God. In 
these revivals the pastor rejoiced as the special fruits of 
heaven's mercy ; and he labored, in season and out of 
season, for the spiritual welfare of his people. In re- 
turn, he had the happiness to receive from them the 
testimony of a grateful affection and a most devoted 
attachment to him as their pastor and guide. In addi- 
tion to his labors in the pulpit, which, it has been said, 
during the last years of his life, were greater than those 
of any other settled minister in the State, he devoted 
much time to objects of general benevolence. He was 
the originator, and for many years the principal con- 
ductor, of the Connecticut Evangelical Magazine, one of 
the ablest and most useful publications of the kind.* 
He also originated the plan of the Missionary Society of 
Connecticut, one of the earliest in this country, and 
which has extended the light of life to hundreds of 
thousands in the destitute parts of our land.t His pub- 
lished sermons, though unadorned and often negligent 
in respect to style,| abound in clear and powerful ex- 

* During the first five years of the publication of this work, the average 
number of copies printed was 3730. All the profits of the work were sacred- 
ly devoted to the permanent fund of the Missionary Society of Connecticut. 
In six years there had been paid into the treasury 7,353 dollars. The whole 
amount paid over to the Society was 11,520 dollars. 

t He was likewise the first mover in the formation of the Connecticut Bible 
Society. He suggested the plan to his brethren at a meeting in Hartford, 
May, 1807. Had it then been carried into eff'ect, this society would have been 
the first in the country. It was not formed till the May following. The 
Philadelphia Bible Society had been established a few months previous. 

t Though there are many fine passages in his writings, he appears to have 
felt in regard to mere style much as did the ' famous Hooker.' ' That thi(S 
discourse (Survey of Church Discipline) comes forth in such a homely dress 
and coarse habit, the reader must be desired to consider, it conies out of the 
wilderness, where curiosity is not studied. Planters, if they can provide 



21 

hibitions of truth ; and may be regarded as among the 
best sermons extant, to be read in religious meetings, in 
a season of revival. As a preacher, he possessed the 
rare talent of presenting great truths in a clear, practi- 
cal manner. Dispensing with technical language and 
metaphysical niceties, he presented the doctrines and 
precepts of the gospel as matters of common sense, no 
less than of revelation, and thus labored to make his 
hearers feel that religion is a personal, vital concern, and 
that there is no excuse for neglecting it a single moment. 
Though he had an almost irrepressible propensity to wit 
and sarcasm, — a dangerous talent for a minister to pos- 
sess, and sometimes used by him as it should not have 
been, — yet it has often been remarked, that nothing ever 
escaped his lips in the house of God, calculated to excite 
a ludicrous thought, or awaken a vain smile. His 
whole manner in conducting the services of the sanctuary 
was deeply solemn and impressive, — adapted to hide the 
man and present God; to exclude the w^orld and bring 
near eternity. He became hopefully a christian while 
a member of college ; and his light steadily increasing, 
shone brightest at its going down. In his last sickness, 
which was short, he enjoyed the consolations and hopes 

of that religion which he had so long recommended to 
his people. He died December 25th, 1816, in the 69th 
year of his age, and 43d of his ministry. 

This church has reason to hold his name in ever 
grateful remembrance, as among the ablest and most 
useful of its pastors, and, especially, as an instrument, 

cloth to go warm, they leave the arts and lace to those that study to go fine. 
As it is beyond my skill, so I profess it is beyond my care to please the nice- 
iiess of men's palates. They who covet more sauce than meat must provide 
cooks to their mind. — The substance and solidity of the frame is that which 
pleaseth the builder; it is the painter's work to provide varnish. Preface to 
the Survey &c.' 



22 

blessed of God, for the reviving of religion in this 
place and introducing a higher standard of christian 
character and action. 

The present pastor was ordained March 4th, 1818, 
and is now in the 19th year of his ministry. It 
seems but yesterday that I stood here to take upon 
me the vows of ordination and consecrate myself 
your servant for Jesus sake. But I have lived to 
serve you longer in the ministry, than several of my 
predecessors ; and long enough to have buried a great 
proportion of those, who took a part in my call and settle- 
ment over you as a minister. The years I have spent 
here have been years of care, and anxiety and toil ; but 
years also of satisfaction and joy in my work. Though 
I feel that I have reason for great humiliation and re- 
pentance for innumerable deficiencies in duty, yet I 
desire to record it, to the praise of Him who called me 
to serve him in the gospel, that my labor has not 
been in vain. There have been five special seasons of 
ingathering among this people since 1 was set over them 
in the Lord; besides occasional droppings of heavenly 
mercy. The whole number admitted to the church 
during my ministry is 732. The present number of 
members on the catalogue is 585. Since I have been 
with you, two new churches of our denomination have 
been established in the city, chiefly by members from 
this church, — the North in 1824, and the Free Church in 
1832.* The churches in East and West Hartford were 
also colonies from this church, — the former established in 
1701, — the latter in 1711. The mother rejoices to see 
these her children springing up and prospering around 
her; and while, as is natural, she feels a peculiar at- 

* Ninety seven members were dismissed to form the North Church, and 
eighteen to form the Free Church. 



23 

tachinent to her own offspring, and to those that bear 
her own name, she prays, with the most sincere affec- 
tion, that grace, mercy and peace may be multiplied to 
all, of every name, that love our Lord Jesus Christ. 

In passing from these brief sketches of the history of 
this church and its ministers, to some reflections suggest- 
ted by them, I am led to remark, 

1. That this church has always held substantially the 
same system of doctrine. I say suhstantially ; because 
there has doubtless been some variety in respect to 
modes of explanation and statement. But there has 
never been a time, since Hooker and Stone first pro- 
pounded here the doctrines of the Puritans, when those 
doctrines, in their essential principles, did not enter into 
the faith of this church. It has always believed in the 
divinity and atonement of Jesus Christ; in the fall and 
consequent entire sinfulness and ruin of man; in the ne- 
cessity of regeneration by divine influence; in justifica- 
tion by faith in the Redeemer; in the moral government 
and universal purposes of God and in a future state of 
everlasting rewards and punishments, to be adjudged to 
men according to the deeds done in the body. These 
doctrines have been held with greater strictness, and 
preached with greater clearness and power, at some 
times than at others; and it is worthy of special notice, 
that when they have been held with the greatest strict- 
ness and preached with the greatest power, then the 
church has been most prosperous, and has shared most 
largely in the special tokens of the Holy Spirit's pres- 
ence and influence. The darkest and most sterile period, 
in the history of the church, was during the fifty years, 
that preceded the ministry of Dr. Strong ; including 
indeed a part of his ministry ; and this precisely is the 
period during which the doctrines referred to had the 



24 

least prominency in the preaching of the pastor and the 
feeblest hold on the faith of the people. This is an in- 
structive fact ; and it shoidd lead us to prize the faith 
of our pilgrim fathers, not less than their piety; and to 
build all our hopes of the future prosperity of this church 
and society, on a firm and steady adherence to the great, 
essential doctrines of the gospel. 

2. This church has from the first been friendly to re- 
vivals of religion and owes all its prosperity to these oft 
repeated tokens of heaven's mercy. There have been 
seasons of long continued suspension of divine influence, 
when the church was brought very low, both in spirituali- 
ty and in numbers. This was especially the case, during 
the periodjust referred to; when indeed, there was a gene- 
ral moral dearth through the country. But there never 
has been a time, since the planting of this church, when 
its pastors did not look with a friendly eye upon revivals, 
and its members did not regard them with decided ap- 
probation and favor. The excellent men who founded 
the church were the subjects of revivals and had been 
trained up under their influence. The ministry of Mr. 
Hooker, while in his native land, was crowned with 
* wonderful success' by the Holy Spirit. At Chelmsford, 
where, for some time, he served as lecturer, multitudes, 
under his preaching, became the subjects of renewing 
grace, many of whom removed to this country and were 
the founders and first members of this church. After its 
establishment in this place, signal were the displays of 
grace in the midst of it. An early writer, referring to 
this period, exclaims, — O, that converting glory which 
did then appear ; multitudes were converted to thee, O 
Zion. Let me say, multitudes, multitudes were con- 
verted to thee, O Hartford, to thee, O New-Haven, to 
thee, O Windsor. Owing to the imperfection of our 



25 

records, ue cannot now ascertain the number or extent 
of the seasons of refreshing, which were subsequently 
enjoyed by this church ; but from incidental circum- 
stances, as well as from the known character of its pas- 
tors, I find reason to believe, tha^t such seasons were not 
unfrequent, and that, throughout the whole history of 
the church, they have been welcomed as special bless- 
ings from God. How revivals were regarded under the 
ministry of the late Dr. Strong I have already intima- 
ted. During the last twenty five years of his life he wit- 
nessed four revivals among his people. The most 
powerful of these was in 1799, when large numbers were 
added to the church, the tone of its piety much elevated, 
and the state of religion, generally, in the city, greatly 
improved. The last commenced in 1813, and continu- 
ed nearly two years, at no time very powerful, but mark- 
ed with a constant, silent descent of divine influence, 
and producing abundant and most happy results. The 
church, containing, I am informed, but fifteen male 
members, at the settlement of Dr. Strong in 1774, be- 
came large and flourishing in consequence of the revivals 
that took place under his ministry, happily united in sen- 
timent and greatly enlivened in its graces, and at the 
time of his death in 1816, it contained four hundred 
members. Since my ordination in 1818, there have 
been as before stated five revivals in the congregation ; 
and what I have often said from this pulpit, I now 
repeat ; this church is what it is very much from the in- 
fluence of revivals of religion. If there is, among this 
people, any cordial belief and love of the distinguishing 
doctrines of the gospel ; any serious practical regard to 
the duties of the christian life ; any self denial and bear- 
ing of the cross and following Christ according to his 
commands; any active benevolence and prayerfulness 



2C 

and readiness to do good ; in a word, any pious, efficient 
concern for the glory of God and the salvation of sinners, 
either at home or ahroad, in christian or in heathen 
lands, — all this is to be traced, in no small part, to the 
influence of revivals of religion ; and it is to be found in 
an eminent degree, among those who have been added 
to the church as fruits of revivals. Let this church then 
continue to regard revivals as the most precious of God's 
gifts. Let it never be forgotten, that it was planted in 
the spirit of revivals ; that it has prospered by the spirit 
of revivals, and that all its hopes of future prosperity 
depend on the continuance of these seasons of mercy. 
If ever this church ceases to feel its dependence on the 
Holy Spirit, or comes to regard with unbelief or indiffer- 
ence his special influence, as connected with the salva- 
tion of the soul, — that day will the sun of its prosperity 
go down, and God will write upon the doors of its sanc- 
tuary, ' the glory is departed.' 

3. This church has been greatly distinguished for its 
character of stability and harmony. With the excep- 
tion of the difficulty before alluded to, I cannot learn, 
that any thing has ever occurred, in the management of 
its aflfairs, essentially to mar its peace or endanger its 
union. It would seem, that there has always been a 
good degree of unanimity in the call and settlement of 
its ministers ; as there also has, under their respective 
ministrations.* Ten pastors have been settled over the 

* The manner of calling and settling a minister, long practiced in this 
church, and generally in the congregational churches throughout the State, 
is the following, — The church first call the minister ; the society or parish, at 
a legal meeting, concur in the invitation, and vote the salary ; at the time ap- 
pointed, he is set apart to his office, after due examination into his qualifica- 
tions, by a select council of ministers and delegates from neighboring church- 
es, or by consociation, as is practiced in some parts of the State. In a few 
cases, in this vicinity, there has recently been a departure from this course 
of procedure, — the society moving first in presenting the call, and thus 



27 

church ; the present is the tenth, — and nine of them lie 
sleeping among the people to whom they preached. 
This Society has never dismissed a minister ; a fact, 
which speaks much in favor of the character, hoth of 
the people and of the ministers who have served them 
in the Lord.* I find many things on record, which 
show the uniform respect and affection, with which the 
pastors have been treated by the people to whom they 
have ministered. Not only has suitable provision been 
made for their support, but repeatedly have special 
grants been made to them, as expressive of confidence 
and esteem ; and various acts of sympathy and kindness 
done, to assist and encourage them, in their work. To 
this uniform kind feeling, on the part of the church 
and society, it is doubtless owing, that their minis- 
ters have lived and labored here, in peace and suc- 
cess ; happy in the ties which bound them to the peo- 
ple of their charge, and have died and gone to rest with 
those to whom they broke the bread of life. 

Were I permitted to add my testimony in the case, I 
should feel constrained to say, that by no official, or as- 
sociated act of this congregation, has a half hour's uneasi- 
ness been occasioned me, during the more than eighteen 
years that I have served them as a minister. To the 
goodness of God, we are no doubt, primarily and most 
thankfully, to ascribe the stability and harmony, which 

taking the precedence of the church. This, by a vote of the Hartford North 
Consociation passed in 1832, was decided to be an irregularity, and a suffi- 
cient ground for a council to refuse to proceed in the ordination. 

It was also voted at the same time that * this body deem any agreement 
made between a minister and his people, at ihe time of his settlement, pro- 
viding for a termination of the relation on terms prescribed by themselves, in- 
dependently of the advice of the Council, is improper and irregular.' 

* The removal of Mr. Whiting with a number of members to form the 
South Church can hardly be regarded as an exception to the above statement. 



28 

have so long characterized this religious community. 
Were I to assign a secondary cause of this, I shouUl sug- 
gest the fact, that none are here accustomed to assume 
the right to dictate, or govern without the consent of 
others ; or to carry any measures by means that will not 
commend themselves to calm consideration and sound 
judgment ; and when the majority have decided a case, 
the minority are accustomed peaceably to acquiesce. 
Let it be our fervent prayer that the spirit of conciliation 
and peace, that has for so many years blessed this church 
and congregation, may live and reign in our bosoms, 
and be transmitted to those who shall come after us, 
even unto the end of time. 

4. I deem it proper to remind you on this occasion that 
this is a congregational church. And the vital, funda- 
mental principle of a congregational church is, that it 
has in itself the poiver of self government ; the rigid to 
choose and appoint its oicn officers, and to regulate all its 
concerns, independent of external jurisdiction, and responsi- 
ble to none hut God. This principle lies at the founda- 
tion of this church. It was placed there by Hooker and 
Stone and the godly men who followed them into the 
wilderness. Let it lie there. It is a good foundation. 
It rests upon solid rock, even the truth of God and primi- 
tive practice. It has served us well for two hundred 
years. For two hundred years it has continued to pre- 
serve the church in peace, in purity and great general 
prosperity. Why then should it be exchanged for 
another ? ' True, this is a consociated church ; and I 
deem it a happy circumstance that it is so. But it has 
not by this lost its independence. The consociation has 
no original jurisdiction at all over this church. It is 
simply a standing council of arbitration or appeal, to 
which parties, having a difficulty in the church, may g€> 



29 

for advice and assistance.* But the ultimate power of 
decision is after all in the church. There I say let it be» 
Let it never be transferred to any body, single, or as- 
sociated, that is independent of the church, or that claims 
authority over it. This would be to abandon the inde- 
pendence of the churches ; the very principle which the 
pilgrims held dearer than life; and to defend and pro^ 
pagate which, they willingly suffered and died, exiles in 
this western world. 

5. The members of this religious community, both 
church and society, are placed under weighty and solemn 
responsibility to God and to posterity. You, my friends, 
are reaping the fruits of the toils and sufferings and pray- 
ers, of the venerated men who first penetrated into this 
wilderness, and erected here the standard of the cross. 
You have entered into their labors and are here enjoying, 
in independence and in peace, the privileges which it 
cost them infinite hardships to procure and establish. Be 
it your care to perpetuate the precious inheritance, and 
to transmit it unimpaired, nay, enriched by your piety 
and prayers, to those who are to come after you. Let 
not the proud, presumptuous feeling be for a moment in- 
dulged, which would lead you to boast that you are rich 
and increased in goods and have need of nothing ; or to 

* Hooker, who may be regarded as the father of the system of consociation, 
has well expressed the power of that body in relation to the churches. 

' Consociation of Churches should he used, as occasion doth require. Such 
consociations and synods have allowance to counsel and admonish other 
churches, as the case may require, and if they grow obstinate in error or sin- 
ful miscarriages, they should renounce the right band of fellowship with 
Ihem. But they have no power to excommunicate; nor do their constitutions 
bind formaliter ttjurulice. A particular congregation, (church) is the highest 
tribunal ; the power of censure rests in that, where Christ placed it.' Survey, 
Preface and Part IV. p. 19. 

See this point ably discussed in Chr. Spectator, 1831, p. 370, 1835. p. 
570. Bacon's Church manual, p. 160-201, 



30 

say with haughty ones of old, — ' The temple of the Lord, 
the temple of the Lord, the temple of the Lord are these.' 
Such a spirit would offend God, provoke him to withdraw 
from us his mercies, and to leave this vine to spiritual 
decay and death. Be not high minded but fear. The 
strenoth of a church does not consist in wealth or in 
talents, or in the number of its members, or in outward 
advantages of any kind ; but in spirituality, and in a 
readiness for self denial and effort in the cause of God 
and human salvation. The little band that came here, 
weary and way-worn, in 1636, and first paid their 
worship under the spreading branches of the trees, or in 
their own rude log house, had more moral strength, and 
exerted more influence, for the kingdom of God and the 
good of mankind, than many a church in this land, with 
its hundreds of members, and spacious temple, and all 
things rich and splendid in its accommodations. No feel- 
ing should so deeply possess our minds as that of ' our 
immense, our awful responsibility.' We are indeed 
bound to acknowledge, with the most devout gratitude to 
Almighty God, the protection of his providence and the 
smiles of his grace tov^ards this church. Here for ten 
successive generations, the same gospel has been preach- 
ed, that was preached by the excellent men that watched 
over and nourished it in its infancy. Here a long line 
of faithful pastors have lived, and labored, and died. 
Here the Holy Spirit has often and signally manifested 
his presence and grace, and hundreds and thousands of 
immortals have been rescued from the power of sin, and 
have gone up, in long and bright succession, to their 
dwelling place in heaven. 

We stand in the line of the privileges, once enjoyed 
by the sainted spirits of our fathers, and of the 
means, by which they were fitted for glory. Let us 



31 

guard the sacred trust, which we have received from 
our pious ancestors, and convey it, bright and pure, 
to those who are to live here when we are gone. Let 
us cleave to the doctrines which made our fathers 
wise unto salvation; cherish the piety which shed so 
heavenly a lustre over their characters, and live and 
labor, as they did, for the glory of God and the good of 
coming generations. Then like them, we shall live, 
when we are dead ; and multitudes, yet unborn, will rise 
up and call us blessed. Then, when another century 
shall come, this church, ' invested with the increasing 
dignity of a more venerable age,' shall be seen blooming 
and vigorous, ' in the possession of that heavenly beauty, 
which was stamped upon her yonthfid form ;' lifting up 
her voice of truth and warning to the people that shall 
then dwell here, and sheding a clear and bright light 
upon the path that leads to life and heaven. 

* Another century shall come.' But we shall not be 
here. Our bodies will be mouldering in the dust and our 
spirits have returned to God who gave them. The graves 
of our ancestors are beneath and around us ; and a voice, 
deep and solemn, comes up from the generations that 
have here passed into eternity before us, warning us of 
the inevitable allotment, and bidding us prepare for the 
scenes of coming destiny. Oh, how short and fleeting 
is the life of man ! In a few days, we shall all be gone; 
in a few more, the very stones that may mark the 
place of our burial, will be crumbled, under the hand of 
time, and by all on earth, we shall be forgotten, as if we 
had never been. Let us stand in our lot, and be faithful 
unto death ; then shall we die in peace, be gathered with 
our fathers, and with them receive a crown of glory that 
fadeth not away. 



32 

And now may the same Almighty and Merciful Being, 
who for two centuries has guarded and blessed this vine 
of his own planting, continue to shed down upon it the 
refreshing dews of his grace, even unto the end of time. 
Here may the gospel ever be preached in purity and 
power; all its holiest influences be felt; its divinest 
fruits be exhibited, and its richest consolations enjoyed. 
May there be here a perpetuated succession of wise, 
devoted and successful pastors, who shall break the bread 
of life to a united, affectionate and christian people. 
And when the voices of those, who now worship here shall 
be silent in death, may their children and their children's 
children, to the latest generation, enjoy the presence 
and behold the glory of God, and ascend, from this place, 
in growing multitudes, to join heart to heart with the 
ransomed of the Lord, in the purer and nobler worship 
of heaven. 



iLPPEHLIZ. 



i>jv.®i>®m© ©IF TMM ©Mwrnoiii. 



ORDAINED. DIED. 

Rev. Thomas Hooker, 1633, July 7, 1647, 

Uev. Samuel Stone, 1633, July 20, 1663, 

Rev. John Whiting, 1660, 1689, 

Rev. Joseph Haines, 1664, May 24, 1679, 

Rev, Isaac Foster, 1679, Jan, 1683, 

Rev. Tim. Woodbridge, 1685, April 30, 1732, 

Rev. Dan. Wadsworth, 1732, Nov. 12, 1747, 

Rev. Edward Dorr, 1748, Oct. 20, 1772, 

Rev. Nathan Strong, 1774, Dec. 25, 1816, 
Rev. Joel Hawes, 1818, 



AGED. 

61, 
61, 

38, 



43, 
50, 
69, 



MINISTRY. 

14 years. 
30 years. 

*10 years. 

15 years. 
3 years. 

47 years. 

16 years. 
25 years. 
43 years. 



IDH^^OM^ 



NAMES. 



Andrew Warner, was in 
Edward Stebbins, was in 
Paul Peck, 
Joseph Easton, 
Joseph Olmsted, 
Nathaniel Goodwin, 
John Edwards, 
Isaac Sheldon, 
Thomas Richards, 
Joseph Talcott, 
Ozias Goodwin, 
Daniel Goodwin, 
Benjamin Payne, 
John Shepard, 
Solomon Smith, 
Caleb Bull, 
Ezra Corninor 
Isaac Bull, 
Joseph Steward, 
Aaron Chapin, 
Aaron Colton, 
Josiah Beckwith, 
Russell Bunce, 
William W. Ellsworth, 
William W. Turner, 



CHOSEN. 

1639, 
1665, 
1681, 
1681, 
1681, 
1734, 
1734, 



1748, 
1756, 
1769, 



1813, 
1813, 
1813, 
1821, 
1821, 
1828, 



DIED. 



1769, 

1749, 

April 1749, JE 83. 

1781, 



Jan. 1782, M 54. 

1789, 

1786, 

1789, 
July 1816, M 79. 
Nov. 1824, JE 84. 
April 1822, M 69. 



Jan. 1827, M 64. 
removed 1825. 



1689. 



Mr. Whiting was also Pastor of the South Church 19 years from 1670 to 



34 APPENDIX. 

In 1648, was published in London a " Survey of the Summc 
of Christian Disciphne," a work by the Rev. Mr. Hooker, in de- 
fence of the Churches of New-England. His manuscripts were 
left in charge of his friends, Mr. Edward Hopkins and Elder 
William Goodwin. Following the preface to this work, is their 
address to " the Congregation and Church of Jesus Christ in 
Hartford", which bears date October 16, 1647. From that part 
of it which speaks particularly of Mr. Hooker, we make the 
following extract. 

" But the only wise and holy God, for our great unworthinesse 
hath lately made a sad breach upon us by the death of our most 
dear Pastor (the Author of the ensuing Treatise) whereby our 
glory is much eclipsed, our comforts not a little impaired, and 
our fears justly multiplied. The stroke is direfull and amasing, 
when such a stake is taken out of the hedge, such a pillar 
from the house, such a Pastor from his flock, in such a time 
and place as this. 

It is not our purpose or is it suitable to our condition and re- 
lation, to lay out the breadth of the excellencies wherewith 
through the abundant grace of the Lord he was inriched and fit- 
ted for the service of his great name, or if we were willing to 
improve our selves in that kinde, have our pens received an 
anointing for such an imploiment ; what we expresse is onely to 
put you and our selves in mind of the unvaluable losse we have 
sustained, that our hearts being deeply and duly aff*ected under 
that sad afflicting providence, we may look up to the holy one 
of Israel our Redeemer, who teacheth to profit, that instruction 
may be sealed up unto us thereby. 

He was (as you well know) one of a thousand, whose dili- 
gence and unweariednesse (besides his other endowments) in the 
work committed to him, was almost beyond compare. He re- 
vealed the whole counsell of the Lord unto us, kept nothing 
back, dividing the word aright. His care was of strong and 
weak, sheep and lambs, to give a portion to each in due season, 
delighting in holy administrations, which by him were held forth 
in much beauty and glory. In this work his Master found him, 
and so cal'd him to enter into his glory. Some of you are not 



APPENDIX. 35 

ignorant with what strength of importunity he was drawn to 
this present service^ and with what fear and care he attended it. 
The weight and difficukie of the work was duly apprehended 
by him, and he lookt upon it, as somewhat unsutable to a Pas- 
tor, whose head and heart and hands, were full of the imploi- 
ments of his proper place. 

Besides, his spirit mostly delighted in the search of the mystery 
of Christ, in the unsearchable riches thereof, and the work and 
method of the spirit, in the communication of the same unto the 
soul for its everlasting welfare, some discovery whereof may 
hereafter be presented to the world, as the Lord gives liberty 
and opportunity. 

Such strength of parts clothed with humility, such clear and 
high apprehensions of the things of God, with a ready cheerfull 
condescending to the infirmities of the weak (which was his 
daily study and practice) are not often to be found among the 
sons of men, nor yet the sons of God in this world." 



Section of Hartford as it n^as Feb. 1039. 



pLTTTLE RIVERj 

" Highway on the North Bank of the Little River," (now Arch Street.) 



055 



O 

3 S 









Gov. Haynes' 

House lot, 

' estimated 2 

acres. 



Tho's. Hooker 

" Pastor of the 

Church in 

Hartford," 

' estimated 

2 acres.' 



James Olmsted 
estimated 2 acres.' 



William Pantry 

' estimated 2 acres, and 8 rods 

he bought before 1639, of 

Thomas Scott.' 





Samuel Stone 


W'm. Goodwing 




"Teacher of 


"Elder of the 


> 


the Church in 


Church in 


Hartford." 


Hartford," 


'^ 


' estimated 2 


' estimated 


n 


acres.' 


3 acres.' 


p 






Q- 






3 






crq 






^1^ 






o 






r^ 






3- 






a 






2 






fS 






re 






^. 






s 




1 


en? 




X 




o 


John Steel 


ro 


' estimated 2 acres.' 


/— s 




s 




o 




^ 




o 




o 




CD 


Clement Chapling 


n 


' estimated 2 acres.' 


? 





Thomas Scott, 

originally 2 acres, but 

before 1639, he had 

sold to 



James 

Cole, 1 

rood. 



i 

P 
C. 

B 

^^ 

3 

lg 



cc p 

r o 



a 

S 



Thomas 

Alcott, 60 

rods. 



Meeting 

mil 



ts 



" Highway leading from the Little 
meadow to the meeting house," 
(now State Street.) 



House 



Yard. 



These House Lots, excepting one, are 'estimated two acres more 
or less,' but their boundaries will make them three acres; and the 
one estimated three acres probably contained four. 

Figures 1 and 2, refer to the first and second meeting houses built 
here, and designate their situation. 

The whole (now) State House square, with all the encroachments 
which have since been made upon it, was then called the " Meeting 
House Yard." The dotted lines on the South side of the yard show 
the encroachments since made, and the Town grants to individuals. 



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